Nabbing

Rustling can be heard as Kumo ninjas make their way into Konoha in an attempt to kidnap the next Jinchuriki. After their planted spies confirmed that Mito Uzumaki was finally dying and transferring her tailed beast they mobilized their quickest Ninja.

Among the Kumo ninjas, the majority are Chunin due to the small gap in time they have to mobilize and complete their mission of acquiring yet another tailed beast. The fact that the future jinchuriki had special chakra was just a bonus.

x-X-x

Making quick work of infiltrating the village and kidnapping their future jinchuriki, Kumo ninja made their way out and back to the village.

While pulling their captee back to Kumo to report a successful mission, the ninjas failed to notice the strands of hair their captive had been dropping effectively leaving a trail back to them.

They made their way through an endless sea of trees until...

x-Elsewhere-x

A boy with yellow hair wore a simple white suit of clothing with green trimmings and a hood. He wore a tracksuit with three stripes on the sleeves, mesh under armor, a pair of black pants, sandals, and the iconic Konoha shinobi headband.

He ran around the village after an emergency mission was issued, one of my classmates had been kidnapped.

Searching around he managed to find a trail of loose strands of hair, he followed it hoping it would lead him to his captured classmate.

x-X-x

Catching up to the group of perpetrators the yellow-haired boy tried sneaking up on the group hoping to catch them with a sneak attack and dispatch them quickly.

When suddenly he was blindsided by a sucker punch coated in chakra, the sudden attacker was a ninja dressed in the usual Kumogakure ninja attire with the addition of a blank white mask.

Hitting the nearest tree the boy made a noticeable TUD before blacking out and landing on the ground below.

The group ahead of them reacted a few seconds later hearing the TUD the group turns around to see another of one of their own standing over the unconscious boy, the masked individual simply said.

"Go on!, I'll handle any more strays."- The masked figure said firmly as the group simply nodded and continued their way.

x-X-x

??? POV

Slowly returning to consciousness I slowly opened my eyes to find them still adjusting so I couldn't see much of anything, I tried to get up only to realize my hands had been tied behind my back.

Founding it hard to breathe I realized someone was on sitting on my back. Thinking I could get the upper hand again I slowly tried to free myself by dislocating one of my thumbs when suddenly the person on top of me spoke.

"Minato Namikaze, huh"- panic was my first thought, 'This guy knows who I am.'

My vision started to adjust, the first thing I noticed was one of these guys' feet the other pining my head to the ground, next to his foot were my belongings and Ryo (Money). He's been looking through my wallet, 'That's how he knows who I am' - I collected my thoughts to find a way out of this situation when he spoke again.

"You were ranked highest during your days in the academy, you've been marked as a future threat by the Advisers." He paused for a moment then continued, "Let's hope you get a better shot in your next life".

Before I could fully process what he said he lifted his leg from my head and put a hand on my chin and another on the back of my head.

"Wai-" I couldn't finish what I was going to say before everything went black.

x-X-x

*SNAP*

He couldn't get any last words in as the person above him didn't let him finish and just snapped his neck without not missing a beat.

Cleaning up any more trails left behind by their captee the ninja picked up the pace to catch up with the others.

Not before leaving some hidden explosive seals of the yellow-haired boy to buy some time in the case, any other Konoha ninja managed to catch up.

x-Time skip-x

??? POV

It seems it'll be a while before the redhead wakes up. More time to reflect I guess.

Getting a clearer look at her she seems to have a round face, which, with her red hair naturally framing both sides of her face, gives her the resemblance of a tomato. Her attire is a sleeveless kimono-style blouse that was yellow in color and held closed with a green obi over a short-sleeved mesh shirt with a pair of dark blue shorts and brown shinobi sandals.

I've been tasked with the simple mission of supervising the captured jinchuriki as well as making sure that Kumo can get another perfect jinchuriki.'Expecting a lot from me aren't they.'

After they dumped her on me I began to realize just how similar we are.

'I should try befriending her, she might provide another point of view on what I should do with my life.'

She began to stir awake. 'Looks like I might get some insight sooner than I thought.'

x-X-x

??? POV

"Ugh, where am I?" she asked anyone that could hear her.

All she heard was quiet humming.

She opened her eyes allowing them to slowly adapt to her new surroundings to look at where the humming came from. She looked What she saw was a boy with (H/c) hair tossing a Kumo headband in the air.

"Umm, Where are we?"- She hoped to probe the boy for answers only to receive none.

"E-Excuse me, Where are we?"

"..."

"E-Excuse me!"- The boy simply stops tossing his headband and looks at the questioning redhead.

"Oh, you're awake, must have been tired from all that I guess."- Finally acknowledging her existence.

"Um, where are we?"- Still hoping for answers the redhead was forward with her questions.

"Right, well introductions first, I'm Leo Kuroshori, So? Who are you?"

"I-I'm Kushina Uzumaki, dattebane."

"Dattebane?"- Shaking his head he continues "Anyways to answer your question, we're currently on Genbu."

"Genbu?"

"Yup."

"..."-'This isn't helping.'-Looking around I notice we are in a room with no windows, only a bed, chair and table are present.- 'A cell?'

Suddenly the boy says something that surprised her. "You want out? The door isn't locked you kn- *ahem* dattebane." he finishes by smirking.

'Is he mocking me?'- Anger begins to take over but for now figuring out where I am is more important so I decide it's best to ignore his remark and make my way out the door.

Just as he said it isn't locked so I make my way outside but there isn't anyone outside or anything in the empty hall, I also can't pick up any chakra signatures besides the guy in the same room as me.

About to just wander out he puts a hand on my shoulder startling me and speaks again.

"There ain't much in this place since it's merged in a mountain of sorts but before you head out can I ask you something?"

"S-Sure."- 'Is he trying to stop me.' I try and figure out a way to defend myself if need be.

"What do you plan to do?"

"W-What?"

"Sorry let me explain. You see I think we are pretty similar in a sense, I've been abandoned by Konoha while you were ignored by it. So what do you plan to do?"

'What. What does he mean? He was abandoned? I'm being ignored?'

I guess my confusion is apparent on my face as he decides to further elaborate.

"I guess it does sound confusing doesn't it"- I nod my head, so he continues.

"Well, I guess I'll start with you. You're being ignored... it's pretty self-explanatory, isn't it? The village ignored the fact you were being ostracised by your other classmates."

I muttered, I couldn't refute, but still...

"That can't be true, it's against the will of fire." I tried to refute, as empty as my word may be.

"The will of fire, huh? Loyalty to those in your village?"

"Yeah, dattebane."

"Hmm, guess to us who are too far from the village can only receive a one-sided loyalty, right?"

"What? What do you mean about that?"

"I mean despite living in Konoha and becoming a Konoha shinobi you're ostracised and treated like an outsider. Why? Is it your hair? Your heritage? I mean isn't the Uzumaki clan symbol embroidered on every Shinobis back? It doesn't make sense does it."

I clenched my fist, I couldn't deny his reasoning, but one thing is bothering me.

"B-But, What does this have to do with you? Dattebane."

"Hm, yeah I did say we're similar didn't I? Well, it's a pretty long story so I'll just give the summary, heh. Let's hope that's enough and you'll give me a proper answer."

(A/N: I wonder which way people like to read people talking, whether that's traditional or scripted I'll either do the one that feels more natural or the one I see people like more, hell maybe a combination of the two.)

Leo: "Well, to put it bluntly, the little village me and my family lived in was raided by Kumo shinobi who were disguised as Suna shinobi hoping to ignite a war between the two. After my village got their bearings they sent messengers to the Hokage requesting help, for two weeks they held out but deep down they knew they couldn't hold on forever so rather than continuing to keep them at bay they made a deal.

Kushina: " A deal?"

Leo: "Yes... Let me finish, please."

Kushina: "Right, sorry"- I couldn't help but feel a small blush begin to appear.

Leo: "Let's see, right the deal was they would surrender if they let their village children live. They initially said no until they eventually relented and agreed to let the kids live if they joined Kumo as Genin. But surprise surprise, they lied. They were there to start a war not get more ninjas so they backstabbed them. But due to unforeseen circumstances they had to keep their end of the deal and in exchange for letting the kids live they slaughtered the remaining adults. Reinforcements from Konoha never showed up, they abandoned us.

I just stood there processing his story, I couldn't believe it.

Leo: "Heh, it seems you are the perfect Konoha shinobi aren't you."

Kushina: "What do you mean by that?"- I couldn't help but grit my teeth.

Leo: "Well these are the things you don't hear from Konoha, their dirty secrets. The "necessary" sacrifices. Now and again these things happen where a village will sacrifice small groups of people to maintain peace. After my village was slaughtered they didn't receive as much as a mention in Konoha's news. It's all for the greater good so, they turn a blind eye to these atrocities."

A sad and disappointed look shows up on his face. As much as I want to doubt him the words of my Grandmother Mito started to pop up in my head. How she seemed more angered than saddened when she heard of what happened to Uzushiogakure. 'Would this guy know more of these "dirty secrets?"'

Leo: "If you knew of all their dirty secrets would you still call yourself a Konoha shinobi, no a shinobi at all?"

(A/N: Do note that this story wasn't first written with the main character in mind so there might be inconsistencies since in filling in for the MC.)